Awareness Session on Organ Donation at College of Nursing, AIIMS Rishikesh

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  Mr. Solanki discussing the practices involved in declaring brain death

  

  Mr. Sanchit discussing about how a single donor can save the lives of several individuals

  

  Participants watching a short movie on Brain Death

  On July 31, 2025, Division of Organ Transplant, in collaboration with MOHAN Foundation, organized an organ donation awareness session at College of Nursing, AIIMS Rishikesh. The session was held at the invitation of Prof. Smriti Arora, Principal, College of Nursing, AIIMS Rishikesh.

   

  The session's speakers included Mr. Sanchit Arora, Project Leader at MOHAN Foundation, stationed at AIIMS Rishikesh & Mr. Deshraj Solanki, Transplant Coordinator, AIIMS Rishikesh, accompanied by Mr. Vrishab Panchal, Transplant Coordinator, AIIMS Rishikesh. Participants comprised Rotary Club members, school staff, and students.

   

  Mr. Arora focused on the inclusivity of organ donation, emphasizing that donors can be of any race, religion, or age. He cited inspiring examples, such as India’s oldest organ donor, Sh. Tej Ram, aged 88, a 70-hour-old infant donor, and a 60-hour-old neonate whole-body donor. He provided an in-depth overview of organ donation in India, covering the following topics:

   

  • What organ donation is and why it is important

  • Who can be an organ donor

  • Live and deceased donors

  • Organ donation during life and after death

  • Brain death vs. coma

  • Skin donation

  • The Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Act, 1994

  • Whole-body donation

  • Living kidney transplantation facilities at AIIMS Rishikesh

  • Myths and facts about organ donation

  • How individuals can contribute to the cause

  • Goals and objectives of MOHAN Foundation and the Anudaan initiative

   

  To create a deeper emotional connection, Mr. Arora interspersed the session with moving short films promoting organ donation.

   

  He concluded by emphasizing the importance of initiating conversations with family members about the decision to donate, helping ensure timely and informed decisions during critical moments. He also recommended the film Aye Zindagi on Zee5 and YouTube for those interested in exploring the subject further.

   

  Mr. Deshraj Solanki opened the session by highlighting AIIMS Rishikesh’s accomplishments in the field of organ transplantation. He explained the process of brain death in detail, elaborating on:

  • Determination of brain stem death

  • Protocols for brain death declaration

  • Apnea test: procedure, criteria, and significance

   

  The session was highly interactive, with enthusiastic participation and a range of thoughtful questions, such as:

  • Can a family choose to donate only the eyes?

  • Is it possible for someone under 18 to pledge their organs?

  • Is the waiting list for organ transplants transparent?

  • What is the process for registration if someone needs an organ?

  • How and where can a person register as a recipient or donor?

  • What documents are required for organ donation?

  • Can organs be donated outside the family in case of a live donation?

  • Is there any age limit for pledging for donation?

   

  This awareness session left a lasting impact by educating close to 60 participants about the significance of organ and tissue donation while encouraging them to contribute to this noble cause.

   

   

   

  
  
  Source-Mr. Sanchit Arora